I Saw The Photograph…

Maria Ní Mhurchú

I saw the photograph and

It brought a lump to my throat;

A foetus

Five months old

Too fragile to be removed

From his mother’s womb.

The surgeon made an incision

In the uterus –

The baby suffering from spina bifida;

The surgeon worked away in the dark

Miraculous hands directed by angels from Heaven

Fixing the baby’s spine.

But that’s not what brought

Tears to my eyes

No, but the sight of a tiny hand

Courageously slipping out of his mother’s womb

Curling fingers around the surgeon’s ring finger

A small but firm grasp

A thank-you to medical science

And to Our Maker who gives us the courage

To strive to make this world

A better place.

Chonacsa an Grianghraf…

Maria Ní Mhurchú

Chonacsa an grianghraf

Agus tháinig tocht im’ chroí

Ní raibh an dochtúir

Ábalta ar an ngin bheag a thógaint

Ón mbroinn…

Mar chaillfí an leanbh.

D’oibrigh an dochtúir sa doircheacht

Ag cur poll san útaras

Ag socrú cnámh droma… spina bifida an linbh.

Míorúilt.

Lámha stiúrtha ag aingil

Ó Neamh anuas

Ach ní hé sin a d’fhág na deora

Ag sileadh liom

No, ach an phictiúirín –

Láimhín beag an linbh

A sháigh sé amach as an ndoircheacht

A bheir greim daingean ar mhéar

An mháinlia chruthaithigh

Ag gabháil buíochais leis.

2018

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I’m A Dreamer

Dream big
Build a skyscraper
Build a cathedral
Brick by brick
After all
Moving a mountain
Begins with the grasp
Of one small stone.

Win All-Irelands
That aren’t easily won.
Train physically
Train emotionally
Be disciplined

You may not be able
To see the top of the stairs
But you can take the first step…

Kerry footballers
Men of steel
Men of courage
Humble men
Facing adversity
Kerry religion
And dream big.

After all
A dream is a wish
Our hearts make

So dream big.

New Year’s Eve in Dingle

Maria Ní Mhurchú

Night is the Angel of darkness
A bit like a crow
A bit more beautiful.

Stars hang onto her feathers for dear life
As she sweeps over the planet.
These look like babies
Except for their little black wings
And their stocks of fiery, white curls
Long and fabulous
A bit like a hippy
And almost as beautiful.

The babes play together
Shooting here and there
A fantastic display of fireworks
In the night sky.

I watch from the quay in Dingle
Applauding
As the Artist’s pallet fills us in awe
A splendour befitting a king

Then night puts a finger to her lips
Shush! She says, smiling at her flock.
Suddenly I see Mary
As the moon paints her face a
Watery sea…
Mirroring her magnificence.

As I gaze at the night sky
I see night nursing her flock
And I know in my heart
That the coming year
Will herald in peace and contentment
As each babe
Eyes closing
Sleep in the arms of their mother.

Earth Mother

And the rain burned
And the moon turned
Back to front
Upside  down

Bigger
Brighter
Than a ball of fire…

Bigger
Brighter
Than  I ever
Dared to dream…

You came hurtling
Into my world
Head first
Hurling
Thru time

My little boy
From long ago

Left on my own for so long
I called you Willow
Shedding tears
Of joy

A new spring

Birth
Reborn
In a barren world.